Automatic traffic signal



Sept. 4, 1923. 1 4665.809 I STRONG AUTOMATIVC TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Nov. 16 1920 ZSheets-Sheet 1 asixammmmmas l/vvzlvroe L OLA ST ON Sept. 4, 1923 STRONG 7 AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC I SIGNAL Filed Nov. 16, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

l/vvzwrafi LOLA STRONG- LOLA s'raonc, canons lemon, camronn'm.

AUTOMATIC mnarrrc sienna.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOLA STRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Traflic Signals, of whichthe following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide an automatic intermittently revolving sign, which is particularly adapted to be employed as a traffic control signal, but which may also be employed as an advertising sign or the like.

The invention contemplates the provision of a device which is intermittently partially rotated through'automaticoperating means, and which may also be arranged to sound an audible warning before the device is partially rotated. i

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the -de-' vice constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of'the same with the cover removed. 3

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse-section on the line 4-4 of 'Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatlc showing of the wiring for the device.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view'showin a somewhat modified form of the invention.

The device includes a suitable support 1 shown as a post, and a base 2 is provided upon this support. The .intermittently partially rotated part of themechanismis supported upon base 2, and revolves upon the same.

As an instance of this arrangement a shell 3 open at its ends, and preferably rectangular in cross section, is mounted upon the base.

2. Suitable rollers shown as casters 4 are arranged at the lower open end of the shell Application filed November 16, 1920. Serial No. 424,467

above cross bars 6, and usual electric lamp sockets 9 are mounted thereon with the lamps 10 carried by said sockets projecting through suitable apertures 11 provided in the respective sides of the shell 3. An audible signal shown as an electric bell 12 is preferably also mounted upon frame 8, and this frame may carry a usual transformer 13 the shell, and are curved downwardly to form hoods 15' received over lamps 10,'and arranged to reflect the rays of the lamps downwardly against the sides of the shell.

Thev rotatably mounted'shell is arranged to be intermittently partially rotated, and

said partial rotations are preferably quarten-turns. By this arrangement whenthe shell 3 is formed asa rectangular shell having four sides, as shown at 16, andwhen the shell makes quarter turns, the device may be either employed asa trafiic control mechanism having one set of opposite sides of the shell marked Go, and the other ,set of opposite sides of the shell marked Stop,

or the device may be employed simply as an advertising medium with suitable display advertising upon the sides 16, or route markings, and other information for travelers provided upon. thev sides of the shell.

The operating mechanism for the shell 3 includes a frame 17 projecting upwardly frombase2within theshell 3. A main guide rod 18 projects upwardly from thisframe through suitable antifrictional bearings 19 in cross bars 6 and 7. By this construction shell 3 is readily rotatable with relation to stationary guide rod 18, and frame 17, the shell being guided during rotation by the guide rod 18. f

A gear 20 is fixed upon'the underside of cross bar 7 concentrically with shell 3 and guide rod 18. This gear meshes with a mutilated gear 21 journaled upon a shaft 22 projectin from frame 17, and the mutilated gear is continuously rotated by a-gear 22' fixed-to the same, and in turn driven by a pinion 23. This pinion is fixed upon a shaft 24 journaled in frame 17, and having a gear 25 upon the same meshing with a worm 26 upon the shaft of a suitable electric motor 27 mounted upon the base of frame 17. When the motor is running, the mutilated gear-is constantly rotated and will impart an inter- -mittent rotary movement to gear 20.and the shell 3.

Means are referably provided for sounding the audi le signal 12 at the beginning of the partial rotations of shell v3, and for this purpose an insulator block 30 is preferably provided upon cross bar 6. Circum ferentially spaced contact plates 31- are arran ed in block 30, and ide rod 18 is pre erably provided with ala terally extend ing contact arm 32 arranged to successively make contact between the-plates 31 and a ring 31 carried by block 30, as the block is rotated with cross bar 6 and the shell 3. The arts are so arranged that the contacts will be made at the start .of the artial rotations of the shell, and the circuit through the audible signal is closed by the making of these contacts.

In order that an electrical connection may be made between the stationary part of the device and the rotating part of the same,

contact fingers 33 are preferablyfixed to an insulator block 34 carried by frame 17 and these fingers form terminals for an electrit circuit. The free ends of the fingers make. contact with conductor rings 35 carried by the cross bar 7.

The electric circuits through the device will be understood by reference to Fig. 5. The wires 36-37 lead from a suitable source of electrical energy which may be a usual commercial current. The motor 27 is connected in parallel to wires 36-37, and these wires lead to the terminals of contact fingers 33. Wires 363 -37 lead from the. conductor rings 35 to form a circuit through the primary coil of transformer 13. and the lamps 10 are connected in arallel in this circuit. Wires 36"'-3' lead ondary coil of transformer 13 to the bell 12 so as to form a circuit through the same,

from the sec and the contactring 31 and contact plates. ,31 are arranged in this circuit.

Contact arm 32 engages ring 3.1 and is adapted to complete the circuit through any one of contact plates 31 with which it engages.

At Fig. 6 I have illustrated a somewhat modified form of the invention in which cover 14 fits snugly upon shell 3 and the lamps 10 are arranged within the shell. The light from the lamps projects outwardly through suitable bulls eyes 40, arranged in the sides 16 of the shell. This modification of the device is particularly adapted for a traiiic signal mechanism, the word Go being displayed upon one set of opposite sides of the device as shown at 41, while the Word Stop as shown at 42, is displayed upon the other set of opposite. sides of the device. The respective sets of opposite sides may be painted in contrasting colors, preferably red and white, and the b'ulls eyes 40 may be similarl 7 colored.

Various changes may he made without departin from the spirit of the invention as claimeil.

What is claimed is:

A revolving sign comprising a base, a shell rotatably mounted on the base, frames secured within the shell, a shaft journalecl in the frames, lamps associated with the shell, contact ringssecured to one of the frames, contacts engageahle with the rings and cooperating with the latter to'supply current to said lamps, contact segments carried by the other 'frame, a contact arm fixed to said shaft and adapted to engage said 

